Connector and mounting bracket therefor



May 8, 1962 s. J. MAJEWSKI CONNECTOR AND MOUNTING BRACKET THEREFOR Filed Oct. 6, 1959 INVE/VTOR Szanley (I magma/51ft By GUPW 3mm ATTORNEY 3,034,092 CONNECTOR AND MQUNTHNG BRACKET THEREFQR Stanley J. Majewski, Chicago, TEL, assignor to United- (Zarr Fastener Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 844,812

4 Claims. (Cl. 339-119) This invention relates to a connector structure, and

more particularly to a multiple contact connector and.

mounting bracket therefor.

The mounting of connectors exemplifies mounting problems that are encountered in a variety of environments; and while the present invention is useful in a number of such environments, it will be considered herein with specific reference to multiple contact connectors. In general, such connectors comprise two parts or components,

one of which provides a plurality of male pins adapted to be rmpectively received within female sockets provided therefor by the other component. Both the pins and sockets are contact members and whether the particular connector component has contacts of either the male or female species, such contacts are carried by a body section or casting that is ordinarily secured to a mounting structure of some type. Typical connector embodiments have either cover mounted body sections or chassismounted body sections, and the cover or chassis constitutes the mounting structure. In the first instance, the cover usually has a box-like configuration that is open along one side, and the body section of the connector component is positioned in such open side and is fixedly anchored to the cover. In the second instance, the body section of the connector component is secured directly to a chassis or similar structure, and a cover is unnecessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting means for components of this type. Another object of the invention is in the provision of a mounting arrangement for the body section of a connector component which simplifies the procedures heretofore necessary in securing such body section to a cover or chassis, reduces structural complexity, and improves the quality of the mounting. Still another object is that of providing a connector body section and mounting bracket combination, wherein the mounting bracket slides into a position therefor in the body section and is thereafter locked within such position by bendable locking ears provided by the mounting bracket.

Yet a further object is to provide a multiple contact connector component having a body section equipped with a mounting bracket to enable the body section to be fixedly anchored to a support structure such as a cover or chassis, and in which the electrical characteristics of the connector are improved and the likelihood of destruction thereof is minimized by obviating the need for screws, rivets and similar fasteners in securing the mounting bracket to the body section. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification develops.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a side view in elevation of a covermounted connector, and in which portions of the structure are broken away to more clearly show certain of the physical relationships of the various components; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, broken horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, broken perspective view of a connector body section and mounting bracket therefor, and in which the section and bracket are illustrated in exploded relation; FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, broken vertical sectional view ice similar to that of FIGURE 2, but showing the mounting bracket before the locking ears are restored to the predeformed condition thereof; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of mounting bracket; and FIG- URE 6 is a side view in elevation of a connector body section secured directly to a chassis with the mounting bracket shown in FIGURE 5, and in which portions of the structure are broken away and are illustrated in section.

Illustrated in FIGURE 1 is one component of a multiple-contact connector, and in particular is a cover-mounted male component which is designated in its entirety with the numeral 10. This component comprises a body sec tion 11 equipped with a plurality of contacts 12 arranged in multiple, transversely and longitudinally extending rows. The contacts 12 are in the form of pins or prongs adapted to berespectively inserted into female receptacles provided by a complementary connector component (not shown). The body section ll is formed of an insulating material, andmay be a molded product. The contacts 12 are positioned in openings provided therefor in the body section 11, and may be secured in position by any suitable and conventional means. The contacts 12 are respectively connected to a plurality of conductors 13 forming a cable 14', and such conductors will in turn be connected in a circuit which includes the connector component as an element thereof.

The body section 11 is secured to a mounting structure, and in FIGURE 1 such structure comprises a cover 15 which is substantially closed on five sides and is open along one side thereof, as shown at 16. The body section 11 is oriented within the open side Id of the cover; and if desired, the body section may be located with respect to the-cover by indentations 17 formed in the side walls thereof, and such indentations may be inwardly projecting dimples or protuberances as shown. The cable 14 extends outwardly through the bottom wall 18 of the cover, and

may be anchored thereto by a bracket 19 rigidly secured to the cover and clamp 20 which forces end portions of the bracket into tight frictional engagement with the cable.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the body section 11 is anchored to each end wall 21 of the cover by means of a screw 22 which extends through an aperture 23 in the end wall and threadedly engages a mounting bracket 24, which in turn is carried by the body section. As indicated, it is preferable to use at least two mounting brackets 24; and in the structure of FIGURES 1 and 2, such mounting brackets are disposed at opposite ends of the cover and body section. The support structure or cover 15 ordinarily will be metal, as shown, but it may be formed of any other sturdy material.

The body section 11 has topand bottom faces 25 and 26, and extending about the body section intermediate such faces is a perimetric edge 27. Formed in the edge 27 at each end of the body section is a recess 28 that projects from the upper face 25 to the lower face 26 of'the body section. The recess 28 has a base wall 2?, and formed centrally therein is a channel or slot 30 extending between the faces 25 and 26. Projecting inwardly from the respective edges 31 and 32 of the recess are fasteners 33 and 34, which are located substantially midway between the faces of the body section and are provided with tapered inner edges defining channels 35 and 36 with the base wall 29 of the recess.

The mounting bracket 24 is adapted to be received within the recess 28, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 1, and is provided with a generally planar base wall 3'! terminating at the ends thereof in tapered tongues 38 and 39, respectively adapted to slide into the channels 35 and 36 and cooperate with the tapered inner edges of the fasteners 33 and 34 so as to constrain movement of the mounting bracket toward and away from the base wall I and 52. e

. '3 29'of the-recess. Oriented above the tongues 33 and 39 and extending outwardly therebeyond are upper locking ears 40 and 41 which are adaptedto abut the upper edges of'the fasteners 33 and 34 so as to limit moveinent of the mounting bracket downwardly along the base wall 29 f the recess toward the face 26 of the body section. Disposed below the tongues 38 and 39 are a pair of elongated tabs or looking ears 42 and 4-3 which are adapted to extend outwardly beyond the tongues 38 and 39 and to engage the lower edges of the fasteners 33 and 34 to prevent upward movement of the mounting member along the base wall 29 of the recess toward the upper face of the body section.

However, the ears or tabs 42 and 43 are bendable, and initially project laterally outwardly from the plane of the base wall 37 of the mounting bracket, and the angular V forientation of the tabs is sufficicnt to clear the fasteners '33 and 34 when the mounting bracket is moved downwardly along the base wall 2? of the recess 28 to slide the tongues 38 and 39 into the respective channels 4 corresponding elements in the mounting bracket 24', and because of the correspondence of such components no further description will be included herein. It will be understood that the body section 47 is provided at each end thereof (and sides, if desired) in the perimetric wall 59 with recesses which correspond to the recess 28, and are adapted to respectively receive the mounting brackets 24' therein. Since the laterally turned leg 58 of the mounting bracket 24' is usedto secure the structure to the chassis 55 it will be evident that the recesses provided in the body section 47 need not have a slot or channel 31 formed therein, and instead the base wall 60 of the recess may be planar or continuous throughout the center portion thereof, as shown in FIGURE 6.

It is clear that either of the mounting brackets 24 and 24' may be used in conjunction with a multiple contact connector component irrespective of whether such component is of the male or female species; and, more speand 36 and bring the ears 40 and 41 into respective engagement with the fasteners. Thereafter, the tabs 42 and 43 arev bent inwardly towardthe plane of the mounting bracket wall 37 and into adjacency with the base wall 29 of the recess to locate the tabs below the.

fasteners 33 and.34. FIGURES 1 and '2 illustrate the configuration of the mounting bracketafter the tabs 42 and 43 have been bent inwardly to lock the bracket within the recess 28. FIGURE 3 shows the relative position of the mounting bracket and body section before positioning of the former in the recess '28, and FIGURE 4 shows the. relative-position of the components after the mounting bracket is positioned in the recess but before the tabs 42 and 43 have been bent inwardly to .anchor the mounting bracket in the recess.

The mounting bracket 24, and more particularly the base. wall 37 thereof, is provided centrally with a threaded aperture 44 that may be formed initially by piercing the base wall 37. In such event, the base wall 37 of the mounting bracket. flares outwardly about the aperture 44 (as shown at 45), and the slot 30 in the base wall 2 of the recess is adapted to receive such outwardly flared portion 45 and pass the same therethrough 7 comprises a body section 47 equipped with a plurality of female sockets or contacts 48 respectively connected to a plurality of conductors 49 forming a cable 50. The body section 47 is provided with a bottom face 51 and a top face 52 equipped with an oifset extension 53 that projects through an opening 54 therefor in a support structure 55 in the form of a chassis. The body section 47 is fixedly secured to the support structure or chassis 55 by means of cap screws 56 which are threadedly received in apertures 57 respectively provided therefor in the laterally turned legs 53 of mounting brackets 24'. It will be evident that a mounting bracket is provided at each end of the body section 47, and such mounting brackets are secured to a perimetric edge 59 provided by the body section intermediate the faces 51 The mounting brackets 24 are substantially identical to thernounting brackets 24 heretofore described except that the brackets 24 are each equipped with the laterally turned leg 58 formed integrally with the base wall of the mounting bracket. Consequently, the primed equivalents of the numerals used to designate the elements ofthe mounting bracket 24 are employed to identify the cifically, either of the mounting brackets maybe used with the body section 11 or 47. The body section in either instance is provided with one or more recesses (as shown .best in FIGURE 3) having fasteners arranged therein intermediate the faces of the body section. Such fasteners define channels with the base wall of the recess, and slidably receive the tongues 38-39 or 3839' therein. The precise arrangement has a dove-tail configuration with the tapered tongues sliding into the correspondingly tapered channels therefor. Thereafter, the tabs or ears of the mounting bracket are bent inwardly to orient the same under the fasteners, and in such event the mounting bracket is'locked within the recess by abutment of the upper ears and lower tabs with the fasteners, and by substantial abutment of the tongues with the fasteners and base wall of the recess.

If the mounting brackets 24 are employed, the body section will be mounted ma support structure such as a cover 15; while if the mounting brackets 24 are employed, the body section will be secured to a support structure such as the chassis 55. Screws, rivets, etc. are

not required to secure either of the mounting brackets to the body section of the connector component, and therefore elements of such type do not project into the body section and into adjacency with any of the contacts. As

a result, the electrical chmacteristics of the component are improved in that the occurrence of a capacitance between such elements and the contacts is avoided. Also, the possibility of shorts developing between elements of that type and the contacts is obviated. The recesses for the mounting brackets may be formed in the body section of the component during fabrication thereof, and the mounting brackets are structurally simple and are readily anchored in position in the recesses therefor merely by sliding the same into such recesses and flattening the bendable tabs against the base wall of the recess. Also, securance of the mounting bracket-equipped body sections to a support structure therefor is readily accomplished, and the mounting bracket composition lends itself to machine assembly.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in detail for purposes of making an adequate disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a multiple-contact connector structure, a connector body section of one piece-having a plurality of contacts adapted to respectively mate with a plurality of corresponding contacts provided by a complementary body section, said body section having top and bottom faces and being provided in an edge portion thereof with a recess extending between said faces, a pair of integral fasteners respectively oriented along opposite sides of said recess intermediate said faces and extending inwardly from said opposite sides with portions of the fasteners spaced fIom the base wall of said recess to define channels therewith, and a mounting bracket provided along opposite sides thereof with a pair of tongues respectively receivable in said channels so as to prevent movement of the mounting bracket toward and away from the base Wall of said recess, said mounting bracket being provided along one edge of said tongues with outwardly extending ears for engagement with said fasteners to limit movement of said mounting bracket along the base Wall of said recess in one direction toward a face of said body section, said mounting bracket also being provided with a pair of tabs disposed along the opposite edge of said tongues, said tabs being bendable between a first position extending laterally outwardly from said mounting bracket to enable the same to be moved in the aforesaid one direction along the base wall of said recess to position said tongues within said channels and a second position extending generally along said tongues for disposition in alignment with said fasteners to prevent movement of the mounting bracket in the opposite direction along the base wall of said recess, said mounting bracket being provided with securing means to anchor the same and said connector body section to a support structure.

2. The connector structure of claim 1 in which said tongues are beveled, and in which said channels are correspondingly beveled and define with the tongues a generally dove-tail configuration.

'3. In combination, a body section of one piece having top and bottom faces and'being provided in an edge porbeing provided with a pair of tongues respectively disposed in said channels in substantial abutment with both the base wall of said recess and said fasteners so as to prevent movement of the mounting bracket toward and away from the base wall, said mounting bracket being provided with a pair of ears disposed along one edge of said tongues in substantial abutment with said fasteners to prevent movement of said mounting bracket in one direction toward a face of said body section, said mounting bracket also being provided with a pair of tabs disposed along an opposite edge of said tongues and in substantial abutment with said fasteners to prevent movement of said mounting bracket in the opposite direction toward the other face of said body section, said tabs being bendable between a first position extending laterally outwardly from said mounting bracket to enable the same to be moved in the aforesaid one direction along the base wall of said recess to position saidtongues within said channels and a second position extending generally along 4. The connector structure of claim 3 in which said tongues are beveled, and in which said channels are correspondingly beveled and define with the tongues a generally dove-tail configuration. 1 3

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,703,046 Paiste Feb. 19, 1929 1,823,143 Hines Sept. 15, 1931 2,004,039 Despard June 4, 1935 2,123,231 Clemence July 12, 1938 2,275,484 Alden Mar. 10, 1942 2,277,468 Welch' Mar. 24, 1942 2,292,084 Pistey Aug. 4, 1942 2,631,211 Klay Mar. 10, 1953 2,890,265 Smith June 9, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 578,391 Great Britain June 26, 1946 

